HFA News

Serially delayed health market inquiry postpones final report to March

source MAMM Clips

The Competition Commission’s long-running health market inquiry has delayed publishing its final report until March 29 2019, saying it needs more time to consider the extensive submissions it has received from stakeholders since it published its interim findings in July.

Council gives Fedhealth’s revolutionary new flexiFED range the green light

Jeremy Yatt, Fedhealth: The Council for Medical Schemes has officially approved Fedhealth’s new option range for 2019, as well as the new MediVault and Wallet facility that will be applicable to its new flexiFED options.

Better treatments for cancer

THE Health Department says it is abandoning pap smears and will now offer a more sensitive test for cervical cancer.

Speaking during the launch of the national cancer campaign in Pietermaritzburg yesterday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said a sensitive test called liquid based cytology would now be made available in public healthcare centres.

How Medical Savings Accounts are Changing – for the Better

Jeremy Yatt, Fedhealth

Jeremy Yatt, Fedhealth: The concept of medical savings accounts (MSA) emerged in the industry in the early 1990s, reputedly when Discovery founder Adrian Gore was working at Liberty. At that time medical scheme benefits for different kinds of day-to-day healthcare were specified, so for example, members would get a certain amount of Rands to spend on over-the-counter medicines, or for optometry services.

The results of the annual Sunday Times Top Brands survey were announced at an awards ceremony hosted at The Empire venue in Parktown, Johannesburg on Wednesday, 24 October, seeing two local companies excel as the overall winners in their sectors, and Ogilvy SA as top creative agency in support of winning brands....

Business categories: Discovery Health Medical Scheme fought back from third place in 2017, to claim the Grand Prix award as the 2018 Business Overall Favourite Brand. Vodacom was nudged into second place, with the Apple iPhone in third... Brands that won in the other 12 business categories included: Kulula.com, Avis, Mercedes-Benz, Liberty, Santam, FNB, Apple iPhone, Vodacom, Allan Gray, Discovery Health Medical Scheme, Glenfiddich and Business Day... Medical Aid Companies 1 Discovery Health Medical Scheme 2 Momentum 3 Bonitas...

#MTBPS: Mboweni throws NHI R500mln lifeline

#MTBPS: Mboweni throws NHI R500mln lifeline

PRETORIA - Finance Minister Tito Mbweni said on Wednesday that government would be reprioritising R546 million within the National Health Insurance (NHI) indirect grant to address the critical shortage of medical professionals and to procure beds and linen for public healthcare facilities.

The NHI is government's primary healthcare policy aimed at changing the purchase and delivery of health services by addressing inequalities between the private and public sectors, which serve a population of about 16 percent and more than 85 percent, respectively.

Genesis Medical Scheme announces a 5.5% average increase for 2019

Genesis Medical Scheme announces a 5.5% average increase for 2019

It is with a great measure of delight and satisfaction that Genesis Medical Scheme is able to announce, for the 7th year running, the lowest average contribution increase of all open medical schemes for 2019.

According to Dennis van der Merwe, the Principal Officer of Genesis Medical Scheme, the average contribution increases announced by some of the bigger open medical schemes for next year is currently 10.3%. The good news for Genesis’ members, on the other hand, is that their increase will average only 5.5% in 2019 - almost half of what members of other medical schemes may have to fork out.

Scheme’s members are able to structure options to suit their needs

Giving members more transparency and control

Fedhealth: "They want a say over what their cover should be and how benefits are used, "writes Alf JamesWe believe it is going to transform the industry and change the way medical aid benefits are structured

Reimbursement model driven by clinicians

The South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (Sasa) has introduced an alternative reimbursement model that is set to benefit patients and encourage best practice among clinicians in the private healthcare sector.

When the going gets tough the tough get going

AS MEDICAL SCHEMES, members and employers brace for the 2019 financial year, they do so against the backdrop of a technical recession, a VAT increase, petrol price increases and marginal legislative space to innovate

Is your medical Is your medical aid plan still right for you?

It’s that time of year again, when medical aid schemes announce their benefit changes and costs for the year ahead. Given that medical aid costs are escalating faster than inflation, it can be tempting to look for ways to save. But it’s important to properly consider your circumstances and your health before ticking the box for the least expensive option.

Calls for action at historic TB meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa will join other world leaders today (September 26th) to decide on how to fight TB: the world’s, and South Africa’s, deadliest infectious disease.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has called on Ramaphosa to reverse the “sluggish global progress in combatting TB” by making decisive commitments at the first-ever United Nations High-Level Meeting on TB taking place in New York on Wednesday.

Men need to take their health more seriously

Profmed, Graham Anderson - It’s hard to stay healthy in this modern day of fast foods, binge-watching and instant gratification. The good news is the life expectancy at birth for South African men has increased from 54 years in 2009 to an estimated 61.2 years, according to the latest figures from Statistics SA, announced in a media release by Profmed.

Putting control back into members hands

In a first for the medical scheme industry, Fedhealth has announced its 2019 benefit options which features a revolutionary new approach to benefits that gives consumers more flexibility, choice and control.

Discovery opens Vitality to all

Insurer Discovery has opened up its weekly Vitality Active Rewards and Vitality Drive programmes until December, in what it’s calling the Vitality Open, to incentivise anyone to get active and drive well. This is part of a broader overhaul to Vitality Rewards 2.0.

The progressive case for delaying NHI

With a wave of populism and an election around the corner, there is a risk that we will not navigate the tricky waters ahead with sufficient care and end up blundering into dead ends or running those still functioning parts of our healthcare system on to the rocks.

Minister to decide on additional SEP increase

The Medicines Pricing Committee has submitted recommendations to Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi following requests from pharmaceutical companies for an additional increase of the single exit price (SEP) on medicine amidst a sliding rand and increasing input costs

Putting members back in control of their healthcare – and finances

A view from Dr Jonathan Broomberg, CEO of Discovery Health, on the National Health Insurance Bill and the Medical Schemes Amendment Bill

The NHI System as outlined in the NHI Bill Our initial reflection on the proposed NHI system outlined in the Bill, is that it is pragmatic and workable. The Bill proposes the establishment of the NHI Fund and its associated governance and advisory structures.

HFA committed to working with government

We have called this Press Conference to deal with two Bills The Medical Schemes Amendment Bill; and The National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill I will first present the Medical Schemes Amendment Bill and end with the NHI Bill